Once the palace of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul is a vast treasury of Islamic culture, science and weaponry, visited by over 2 million people every year. In this episode, at the foot of Istanbul’s ancient walls we discover how a Muslim invader bested Christian defenders by...

Once the palace of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul is a vast treasury of Islamic culture, science and weaponry, visited by over 2 million people every year. In this episode, at the foot of Istanbul’s ancient walls we discover how a Muslim invader bested Christian defenders by using their superstitions against them. In the city’s famed spice market we seek a poison to assassinate a Sultan, then in the Sulta...Once the palace of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul is a vast treasury of Islamic culture, science and weaponry, visited by over 2 million people every year. In this episode, at the foot of Istanbul’s ancient walls we discover how a Muslim invader bested Christian defenders by using their superstitions against them. In the city’s famed spice market we seek a poison to assassinate a Sultan, then in the Sultan’s private residence we investigate how a Harem slave rose to rule an empire. On the sea at the museum’s doorstep we discover how a Turkish admiral got his hands on the lost map of Christopher Columbus, then unearth a forgotten civilization that fought the mighty Pharaohs of Egypt to a draw. And finally, we test Islamic scientific theories to create a working model of the world’s first robot.
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Art historian Andrew Graham Dixon unlocks the mystery, variety and history of Russia's unique art in this compelling series. He begins with a celebration of the great age of the icon, when Russia was at its most intense and inward looking. Andrew then discovers Peter the Great's artistic revolution; relives the gl...

Art historian Andrew Graham Dixon unlocks the mystery, variety and history of Russia's unique art in this compelling series. He begins with a celebration of the great age of the icon, when Russia was at its most intense and inward looking. Andrew then discovers Peter the Great's artistic revolution; relives the glory days of the Russian high baroque; and assesses the influence of "the Wanderers" - an extraordinary group of artists comparable to t...Art historian Andrew Graham Dixon unlocks the mystery, variety and history of Russia's unique art in this compelling series. He begins with a celebration of the great age of the icon, when Russia was at its most intense and inward looking. Andrew then discovers Peter the Great's artistic revolution; relives the glory days of the Russian high baroque; and assesses the influence of "the Wanderers" - an extraordinary group of artists comparable to the Impressionists. The series concludes with a look at the tumultuous period of 20th century Russia, from the Revolution of 1917 to the present day.
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The engineering and/or architectural feats that were characteristic of some of the greatest societies on this planet. As much of the world descended into the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, one civilization shone brilliantly: the Byzantine Empire. With ruthless might and supreme ingenuity, the Byzantines ruled o...

The engineering and/or architectural feats that were characteristic of some of the greatest societies on this planet. As much of the world descended into the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, one civilization shone brilliantly: the Byzantine Empire. With ruthless might and supreme ingenuity, the Byzantines ruled over vast swaths of Europe.

THE VATICAN MUSEUMS was the culmination of three years of research and filming, the collaboration of thirty-two scholars and historians from around the world, a crew of forty directors of photography, operators, and lighting technicians, state-of-the-art digital cinematography, lighting, animation, and computerize...

THE VATICAN MUSEUMS was the culmination of three years of research and filming, the collaboration of thirty-two scholars and historians from around the world, a crew of forty directors of photography, operators, and lighting technicians, state-of-the-art digital cinematography, lighting, animation, and computerized editing, and the work of a famous composer with original performances by master musicians. The video chronicles the world's most spec...THE VATICAN MUSEUMS was the culmination of three years of research and filming, the collaboration of thirty-two scholars and historians from around the world, a crew of forty directors of photography, operators, and lighting technicians, state-of-the-art digital cinematography, lighting, animation, and computerized editing, and the work of a famous composer with original performances by master musicians. The video chronicles the world's most spectacular and sacred repository of art, history, and faith.
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The stunning visual legacy of Islams greatest architect...The genius of Mimar Sinans classic Ottoman style is illustrated in this profile of his life and work. His magnificent mosques and palaces, bridges and hundreds of public buildings have influenced architecture through the ages. The great 16th century archite...

The stunning visual legacy of Islams greatest architect...The genius of Mimar Sinans classic Ottoman style is illustrated in this profile of his life and work. His magnificent mosques and palaces, bridges and hundreds of public buildings have influenced architecture through the ages. The great 16th century architect Mimar Sinan rose from humble beginnings to become chief architect to the Ottoman ruler Suleyman the Magnificent. This beautiful film...The stunning visual legacy of Islams greatest architect...The genius of Mimar Sinans classic Ottoman style is illustrated in this profile of his life and work. His magnificent mosques and palaces, bridges and hundreds of public buildings have influenced architecture through the ages. The great 16th century architect Mimar Sinan rose from humble beginnings to become chief architect to the Ottoman ruler Suleyman the Magnificent. This beautiful film traces the development of Sinans unique Islamic style in the context of his times- and highlights some of the 500 known buildings he designed during his amazing career. The famous domed structure of his masterpiece - the Selimiye Mosque in the Turkish town of Edirne- is recognized throughout the world as the solution to the classic architectural puzzle of the Circle Within the Square.
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Sister Wendy Beckett visits the world's art galleries to tell the history of painting. Even the most familiar of paintings take on a vivid new lease of life when viewed through this art enthusiast's eyes. In this episode, she takes a look at the cave paintings of Lascaux.

Sister Wendy Beckett visits the world's art galleries to tell the history of painting. Even the most familiar of paintings take on a vivid new lease of life when viewed through this art enthusiast's eyes. In this episode, she takes a look at the cave paintings of Lascaux.